She was convinced it was her thyroid. After years of panic attacks, chronic anxiety, and a body that felt like it was "fighting something," she came to Ronda certain the answer was in her thyroid labs. It wasn't. In this Clinical Thinking case study, Ronda traces the real root cause back to compromised digestion and a nervous system running on stress hormones.

This 28-year-old executive assistant had all the classic signs practitioners often miss: fasting glucose of 71 (a red flag for metabolic instability), light-colored stools, fatty food intolerance, and that telltale mid-back pain at the bra line. She'd been on Armour thyroid since age 13. She'd survived food poisoning in Costa Rica. And every single panic attack? Happened on a day she'd eaten chocolate.

Ronda walks through how she connected the dots, why she started with upper digestion instead of adaptogens, how low glucose and low A1C reveal a system propped up by cortisol and adrenaline, and why the "obvious" first answer is almost never the right one.

You'll also hear a practical tip for managing anxious patients: using AI to create organized visit recaps that satisfy their need for structure and reduce the between-appointment panic spirals.

If you want to develop this kind of clinical thinking in your own practice, download Ronda's free guide: The 6 Principles of Clinical Thinking

She looked perfect on paper. Impeccable diet. Physically fit. Emotionally stable. Then she walked into my office and said, "I can't stop crying. I can't think. Something is wrong, and I don't know what it is." Her labs told part of the story: CRP at 87, neutrophils through the roof, lymphocytes bottomed out. But there was no fever. No illness. No obvious source. Until she dropped one sentence that changed everything.

This is the first episode of my new Clinical Thinking series where I walk you through real patient cases, step by step, so you can see how I actually think through complex presentations.

In this episode, you'll learn why the obvious answer is rarely the right one, how the 30/30/30 rule can keep you from tunnel vision, and what a cracked tooth taught me about dental history and emotional symptoms.

I also share the exact protocol I used, and why I intentionally kept it simple instead of ordering more tests.

If you want the framework behind how I approach every case, download The 6 Principles of Clinical Thinking.

And if you're ready to develop this kind of thinking, not just follow protocols, join me inside Clinical Academy.

I'm going to be honest with you: 2025 humbled me.

It wasn't my year. I didn't hit the goals I set. I didn't finish the projects I planned. I spent more time putting out fires than building anything meaningful.

I went from a team of five down to two plus a virtual assistant and I ended up picking up way more work than a business owner should be doing. I was so scattered, so mentally fatigued, that some days I couldn't focus on anything for more than 10 minutes.

There's a joke in my world: 'How many rabbit holes can Ronda go down in one day?' And this year, the answer was... too many.

So this episode isn't a victory lap. It's not 'here's how I crushed it in 2025. It's the truth. Here are the five lessons this year taught me the hard way. And if you're ending the year feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, or like you just barely survived... I see you. You're not alone.

Let's close out 2025 together.

Resources Mentioned:

• Clinical Academy — Join our community of practitioners mastering clinical skills and building thriving practices

• Clinical Business Academy — Ready to build systems that work? Apply here.

• Coming in January: The Clinical Thinking Series — Don't miss it! Subscribe now.

Those "quick questions" your patients sneak into chats, emails, and hallway drive-bys are quietly draining your time, profit, and clinical excellence. In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on boundary creep; what it looks like, why it happens, and the exact phrases you can use to redirect those questions into paid appointments so you can protect your schedule, your sanity, and your bottom line.

So if you've ever given out your cell number, answered a Practice Better chat at night, or tried to handle a full clinical case in your DMs, friend… this one is for you. I'm walking you through how over-access erodes your authority, leads to inferior clinical decisions, and leaves you resentful and exhausted.

You'll hear real stories from my own practice (yes, including the one where I missed a key clinical clue in chat), plus clear, copy-and-paste language you can use by email, phone, in-office, and even at church or the grocery store.

Listen in and then choose one boundary to tighten up this week - and if you want more practical support like this, be sure to join my email list so you never miss what's coming next.

Ready for more support?

Join Ronda's email list and get weekly insights, trainings, and business-building tips you can put into practice right away: rondanelson.com/join

Big pharma has officially crossed the line: 30-something women are being told they're in 'perimenopause,' and the recommendation (of course) is to start HRT. The truth is that they are tired, stressed, skipping meals, and feeling overwhelmed.

In this ultra-sassy episode, Ronda breaks down the manufactured narrative driving this trend, the physiology that proves it wrong, and a real case from her clinic that highlights how widespread the misinformation has become. Younger women don't need hormone therapy - they need blood sugar support, a well-regulated nervous system, and a meal that isn't toddler leftovers.

Want more clinical clarity like this? You need to be inside Clinical Academy where you get patient-ready protocols, a library of fully searchable trainings, and real-world resources that save time and make your patient care so much easier.

👉 To join Clinical Academy, go to rondanelson.com/clinicalacademy

In this episode of The Clinical Entrepreneur, I walk you through a real case study of a high-stress, high-anxiety patient who turned things around - no labs, no overwhelm, and no complicated protocol.

Instead, I focused on what I call "the low-hanging fruit": stress, sleep, digestion, and diet. You'll hear the exact questions I asked, the protocols I recommended, and the surprising symptom he revealed weeks later.

Want help building clinical confidence like this?

Join me inside Clinical Academy

🎯 What you'll learn:

• My 4 "low-hanging fruit" focus areas

• Why Calm Restore and digestive bitters changed everything

• When the symptoms tell you more than labs

• A surprising clinical insight that connects "mucus in the throat" and heart palpitations

🔁 Share this episode with a fellow wellness practitioner who's stuck in "testing mode" - and let's get back to the basics.

🎧 Listen to more episodes

💬 Let's connect on Instagram

🤲Join my Facebook community

As the year wraps up, it's time to do more than just "plan for the next." This episode is a clear walk-through to help you celebrate the wins, identify the lessons, and set your business up for a powerful new year.

Inside this episode:

✅ How to reflect on what worked (and what didn't)

✅ Where most practitioners get stuck when planning the next year

✅ The 4-step framework I use to refocus with intention

✅ Two free downloads to help you map out what's next

🔗 Grab the free month 12 resources: The Year-End Reflection Workbook and Next-Year Vision Planner

🎧 Get accountability and support for your business by joining Clinical Business Academy - Click here to schedule a call

📲 Let's build the practice and life you've always wanted… together.

If you've ever second-guessed your value, avoided raising your rates, or let a patient dictate their own care plan - this episode is for you.

We're diving deep into the silent ways wellness practitioners play small - often without even realizing it. From discounting your services to avoiding visibility, these subtle habits can keep you stuck in a practice that feels more draining than fulfilling.

In this honest, heart-led episode, Dr. Ronda Nelson shares:

• The 5 invisible ways practitioners hide in plain sight

• Why working harder isn't the answer

• How to break out of your comfort zone and become a respected leader

• A loving challenge to help you stop shrinking and start growing

You didn't start your practice to stay small. It's time for you to take up more space in the world - and do so unapologetically and with confidence.

👇 RESOURCES + LINKS

🎯 Clinical Business Academy

🎙 Listen to all podcast episodes

💛 Subscribe for weekly videos on practice growth, mindset, and marketing for wellness practitioners.

Ready for some real talk about what it takes to grow a thriving wellness practice? In this episode, Ronda Nelson shares the truth no one's saying out loud: strategy isn't enough. We'll talk about mindset, fear, ownership, and how to finally get unstuck without working harder or chasing one more "perfect" plan.

🔗 Get weekly support from Ronda

Got a list of past patients collecting digital dust? 😬

You're not alone, and reactivating them might be the fastest way to fill your schedule.

In this episode, I'm breaking down five simple, low-tech strategies to reconnect with old patients, without feeling awkward, salesy, or desperate. Because sometimes, the easiest growth isn't in new leads… It's in the ones who already know and love you. 💛

✨ Here's what you'll learn: ✅ Why reactivation is the lowest-hanging fruit in your business ✅ 5 proven ways to reconnect (no funnels or software needed) ✅ The exact scripts to make outreach feel natural ✅ How to offer "welcome back" bonuses that feel generous, not gimmicky ✅ A mindset shift that makes reactivation feel like service, not selling

If you've been focused on chasing new leads while your old ones fade away, this episode will help you turn forgotten patients into repeat clients (and reliable revenue).

📍 Join Clinical Business Academy: Get coaching, systems, and strategies to grow your practice

📍 Subscribe to The Clinical Entrepreneur